Reading Time: 5 minutesSelf-care is a somewhat vague term that gets recommended by life coaches and therapists and personal growth enthusiasts, and often is understood to mean massages, manicures, pedicures and the like. And while I have no issue with these things, they more accurately fall into the category of pampering. And I’m a big fan of pampering – it certainly can and should be included in a self-care regimen, however pampering alone does not a self-care regimen make.

If you hold to the hermetic, and magical, principle of “As above, so below. As within, so without.” – then self-care isn’t really an option if you want your body and mind to be healthy, your life to run smoothly, and your experiences to be magical and enjoyable. Because the Universe seems to have a predilection for reflecting our level of self-love and self-care right back at us by way of experiences and events that show up in our lives.